Islam

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Islam

• The misunderstood faith

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5 pillars of Islam

• Shahadah faith/testimony
• Salat prayer
• Seyaamfasting Ramadan
• Zakkahobligatory charity
• Hajjpilgrimage

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1st Pillar Shahadah faith/testimony

• La Elaha Ella Allah,
• La no
• Elaha god
• Ella except
• AllahGod
• No god but God

• Mohammed Rasool Allah.
• MohammedArabic man , died1400years ago
• Rasoolprophet
• AllahGod
• Mohammed is the prophet of God

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Allah name in the bible

• ALLELUYA YA ALLA HU OH! Allah
• Elohim Eloh im (pleural), translated to Allah
  in Arabic bible.

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Allah

• Arabs called Allah , the God of their father
  Ibrahim, the God of gods.
• Mohammeds (PBUH) father name is Abdullah,
  meaning slave of Allah
• Jews used the name Abdullah before prophets
  birth.
• The word Allah is used in Arabic translation of
  the bible. Also it exists in some old versions of
  English translations.

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It doesnt matterHe has many names, they all
mean the same.

• Holy Quran 17110 Say "Call upon Allah, or
  call upon Rahman by whatever name ye call upon
  Him, (it is well) for to Him belong the Most
  Beautiful Names.

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Story of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH)

• He was born to Arab parents from the tribe of
  Quraish, in Makkah.
• Quraish worshiped 360 gods they had in Makkah.
  They believed these gods will get them closer to
  the God of gods (Allah, Ibrahims Lord).
• His parents died very early.
• He never worshiped Idols, drank Alcohol or lied.
• He worked as a shepherd and then as a trader.
• Known to people in Makkah as the Honest.

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Cont-story of Mohammed (PBUH)

• Mohammed searched for the truth but couldnt find
  it in the polytheistic religion of Quraish.
• He started worshipping Allah following what he
  had of the teachings of Ibrahim. Being an
  illiterate man, he had no real access about
  Ibrahims monotheistic faith.

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Cont-story of Mohammed (PBUH)

• At the age of 40, Gabriel appeared to him, the
  first revelation of Quran was given to him.

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Cont-story of Mohammed (PBUH)

• Mohammed started teaching people.
• His close family members, friends and those who
  knew him well, believed him immediately , knowing
  he doesnt lie.
• Many slaves and poor people believed in Islam,
  being attracted to its revolutionary social
  system and to the true monotheistic religion.

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Cont-story of Mohammed (PBUH)

• Mohammed (PBUH) and his followers suffer a lot so
  they started finding a safe place.
• The Christian king of Abyssinia , gave Mohammed
  followers a safe place to hide.
• Later, Arab tribes in Medina heard about the
  prophet. Being informed about the soon coming of
  a prophet by their Jewish neighbors, they
  listened to him and then believed him.

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Cont-story of Mohammed (PBUH)

• Arab tribes had multiple wars with the prophet
  and Muslims.
• Finally, victory was for Islam and Makkah fall in
  hands of the prophet.
• He forgave all his enemies and soon, his
  followers became in hundreds of thousands.
• He died at the age of 63.

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2nd pillar Salaat
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Salaatprayer

• "So turn thy face toward the Sacred Mosque, and
  (O Muslims), wheresoever ye may be, turn your
  faces toward it."- (HOLY QURAN 2144).
• "Now when Daniel...went into his house and his
  window being open in his chamber towards
  Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times
  a day, and prayed, and thanks before his God, as
  he did aforetime."-(DANIEL 610).

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Sojood prostration

• "O you who believe! Bow down and prostrate
  yourselves and serve your Lord, and do good that
  you may prosper."-(HOLY QURAN 2277).
• "And he (Jesus) went a little further, and fell
  on his face, and prayed..."-(MATTHEW 2639).
• "And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and
  did worship..."-(JOSHUA 514).
• "And he (Elijah) cast himself down upon the
  earth, and put his face between his knees."-(1
  KINGS 1842).
• "And they (Moses and Aaron) fell upon their
  faces..."-(NUMBERS 206).
• "And Abraham fell on his face..."-(GENESIS 173).

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3rd pillar SeyaamFasting
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Fasting

• Holy Quran 2183 O ye who believe! Fasting is
  prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those
  before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint.

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Fasting

• According to Islamic resources Prophet David
  used to fast every other day. Prophet Noah fasted
  for his whole life.
• Prophet Mohammed used to fast 2 days every week
  Monday and Thursday.
• Jesus "fasted forty days and forty nights
  (Matthew 42).
• Disciples were fasting "they fasted and prayed"
  (Acts 1423).

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Fasting

• Means abstinence from eating and drinking from
  dawn to sunset time on the day of fasting
• Obligatory only in Ramadan (9th month of Islamic
  lunar calendar) healthy individuals able to
  fast.
• No fasting Pregnant, nursing, ill, old, child
  and traveler.

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Fasting Benefits

• Piety Help believers to reach piety.
• Learn self-control especially helpful to control
  bad habits like smoking, excessive eating and in
  the case of single unmarried persons control
  sexual desire.
• Feel the pain of poor starving people.
• Feel the weakness of ones body and the
  continuous need for Gods support.
• Bring Muslim families, and Muslims allover the
  world together, when they fast then brake the
  fasting at the same time.

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4th pillar Zakaahobligatory charity
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Zakaah

• 2.5 of savings go to the poor.
• Savings should be in hand for a full year.
• Not calculated on basis of income like tax.
• Personal obligation.

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5th pillar HajjPilgrimage to Makkah
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Story of Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim)

• Ibrahims (PBUH) 2nd wife , Hajar delivers
  Ismael, Ibrahims 1st son.
• God orders Ibrahim to leave his wife and her baby
  in a valley that had no water or food, known as
  Bakkah (later known as Makkah).
• Ibrahim obeys the order and leave his family
  there.
• Hajar and her baby had no water. She starts
  looking for water going back and forth between
  two plains, Safa and Marwa. She walks 7 times
  between them with no success.

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Continue-story of Ibrahim

• God sends the angel, Gabriel, to dig a well of
  water under the feet of Ismael.
• Hajar comes to the water and start holding the
  water between her hands saying zam-zam, meaning
  stop stop.
• Arab tribes come to Bakkah and ask Hajar to use
  her water and since she liked to have people
  around her, she agrees.

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Continue-story of Ibrahim

• Ibrahim comes back to visit his family many
  times. One time, he is ordered in a dream to
  sacrifice his son, Ismael.
• Ibrahim obeys but God saves Ismael through a
  miracle and orders Ibrahim to sacrifice a lamb
  instead.

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Continue-story of Ibrahim

• Ibrahim and Ismael are ordered to build the house
  of God in Bakkah, called Kaabah.
• Ibrahim is ordered to make a call for Hajj.
  Ibrahim makes the call and every human being
  hears the call and those who are destined to
  respond will keep coming until the last hour.

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Kaabah
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• 396 The first House (of worship) appointed for
  men was (the Kaabah) full of blessing and of
  guidance for all kinds of beings
• 397 Pilgrimage is a duty men owe to Allah,
  those who can afford the journey but if any deny
  faith, Allah stands not in need of any of His
  creatures.

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Forbidden in Islam

• Shirk worshiping anybody/anything other than
  God.
• Treating parents badly not obeying there orders,
  speaking to them in loud voice even if they have
  a different faith.
• murder, suicide.
• Stealing.
• Adultery, homosexuality.
• Usury Mortgage, credit card with interest, bank
  interest.
• Gambling.
• Treating neighbors badly even if they have a
  different faith.
• Drinking Alcohol.
• Eating pork.

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Behavioral aspects? Muslims should

• Love Allah, his messengers and the believers.
• Be honest.
• Be generous.
• Visit the ill.
• Help the weak.
• Smile to others.
• Be clean.
• Remove dirt from the road.
• Dress conservatively.

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World Muslims

• 1.2 billion, Muslims represent between 19.2 and
  22 of the world's population.
• One of every five humans in the world is a Muslim
• Second largest religion in the world
• Fastest growing including Europe and America

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World Distribution of Muslims
Source  Britannica Yearbook, 1997
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American Muslims

• 5.8 million Muslims in the USA (World Almanac
  2001)
• About 40 African Americans.
• Not all Muslims are Arabs, Not all Arabs are
  Muslims.